This week we spoke to Lauren Stroll, a well-acclaimed fashion writer and mom of 2. Read her full interview below!

As a little girl, I remember playing dress-up in my grandmother’s closet – she had an impressive collection of shoes, dresses and jewelry. She always presented herself with such elegance and grace and always garnered compliments for her sense of style. My blog, Ginny’s Closet, is a tribute to her – ‘Ginny’ is short for her formal name, Virginia. In addition, Ginny’s mother (my great grandmother) was a designer for Tiffany & Co, so my love of fashion, design aesthetic, and styling stems from family influence.   I started my blog as a creative outlet to express my love of fashion and provide women with styling tips to enhance their confidence. 

What influences your personal style?

My personal style doesn’t necessarily fall into one singular category – I love over-the-top glamour, but I also enjoy sleek minimalist looks. Being a mom to a 4-yr. old and 1 yr. old, I have also adapted my style to include athleisure and more versatile pieces. My mood also influences what type of outfit I wear on a daily basis.  Some days I just want to put on red lipstick and heels, while other days I opt for a cozy cashmere loungewear set.

Great question! Other than my grandmother, I always find inspiration from Audrey Hepburn, Jackie Kennedy Onassis, Sarah Jessica Parker (especially in Sex and the City), Meghan Markle, Iris Apfel, Tracee Ross, and Eva Chen – just to name a few.

Has motherhood had an effect on your style?

As I mentioned above, motherhood has made me opt for chic, yet comfortable outfits that can keep up with me during busy days. I still try to incorporate a little glamour to an everyday outfit – for example, I will pair a girly puff sleeve top and my Chanel earrings with relaxed jeans. Or for the cooler weather, I might choose a cashmere sweater with my Helmut Lang leather leggings. The key iis to pick items that are luxurious, timeless, and can withstand anything my young kids happen to throw my way. That being said, I am still a ‘dress’ girl at heart.

What have been some of your proudest moments as a fashion writer? 

I started writing for Forbes a few years ago and one of my initial articles garnered over 500,000 page views. It validated that my audience truly valued my insights and style recommendations. I am also humbled when individuals and brands reach out to me and tell me they are fans of my work- that really makes my day.

What advice would you give someone looking to work within the fashion industry?

There is no one path to success in the fashion world. Look at me, I had an English Literature background with a Pharmaceutical Marketing MBA and I never worked full time in the fashion industry up until 6 years ago. However, being a part of the fashion world was always a dream of mine, so I worked hard to get my first break. I wrote hundreds of e-mails, applied to a thousand fashion writing jobs, and dealt with a ton of rejection before the first fashion publication gave me a shot.  My advice is, never give up. Keep hustling. And remember, always, always follow up.

What are your favorite Mestiza pieces?

    It’s hard to pick just a few – Mestiza makes such beautiful pieces!  My favorites right now are the Anita Cowl Neck Dress, Stephanie bow dress, and Puff Puff gown.